OPK users

sam&ruby

Yesterday I took my first OPK test.  I am on cycle day 10 and took the test a bit late 10pm.  The control line appeared and then there was a very light (but there) test line.  The instructions say that when the test line is as dark or darker then the control line then ovulation is 24-48 hours away.  So, could I guess that a light line means that ovulation is 48-? hours away? I'll be testing again tonight and 8 more days after.  Thanks!

KRoseToes

I thought (and I am NO expert) that a line would show up every time you use it, as a control. So I think the fact that a line exists does not necessarily indicate that you're going to ovulate in the next few days. If a line is there, it means the test isn't broken. I used them one cycle and I had a light-colored line every day. But I never got a dark ovulation line.

Seattle_JiLLn

some people get light lines the whole cycle.   A light line means nothing really.   But for me, it would usually start out ith no line, then I'd get a light line for a day or two and then the positive.   I always got a positive eventually every month.  You need to do it at the same time every day.  10PM is too late.  My RE said around 1PM is the best to catch your peak.

MrsH_08

Seattle_JiLLn:

some people get light lines the whole cycle.   A light line means nothing really.   But for me, it would usually start out ith no line, then I'd get a light line for a day or two and then the positive.   I always got a positive eventually every month.  You need to do it at the same time every day.  10PM is too late.  My RE said around 1PM is the best to catch your peak.

Same here.  The second line starts off barely there, then light, and gets darker closer to O.  I do eventually get a second line about the same as the control line.  But I don't always test at the same time of day.  I test ~ 2x/day for about a week, once I start noticing cervical fluid.  According to TCOYF, you should test more than once/day because there are women who have an LH surge as short as 10-12 hours and you'd just think you never ovulated if you were waiting for the test to show it, but only checking once/day. 

To be honest, I wouldn't put a lot of faith into the OPK's, though.  In my own experience, they have been 1-3 days off of my actual O day.  I've been using OPK's (and also charting temps/CF) for 9 cycles.  It's a good checks & balances, I figure.